Wild Weekly Photo Challenge: Look Up / Sunday Post: Captivating

“The eyes are blind. One must look with the heart.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

BABIES LOVE THEIR THUMBS

Let’s face it, everybody loves a cute baby. 🙂 Size not-withstanding, this is a very young bear cub showing us that indeed, “babies” of all kinds DO love their thumbs. We looked up to see him in a tree above our heads on a wonderful adventure at Alaska’s magnificent Brooks Falls. Mama, by the way, was waiting patiently on-guard down below.

My header photograph is also from Brooks, where the salmon very nearly jump directly into the mouths of the bears. Yes, it’s just as exciting as you’d imagine so I was more than happy to be using my 70-200 mm zoom to capture these beautiful animals. This was definitely not a time for “sneaker zoom”!

Tags: bear cub, letsbewild, photography

48 thoughts on “Wild Weekly Photo Challenge: Look Up / Sunday Post: Captivating”

lensandpensbysally on March 8, 2013 at 9:10 am said:

This morning I will launch a post nominating you for the “Illuminating Blog Award.” Everyone has an individual leaning one way or the other about these awards. Even if you do not accept it, please know that in the nomination comes a heartfelt appreciation for the chance to know you and your work through this blogging life.

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- Tina Schell on March 8, 2013 at 9:12 am said:
  
  That’s so sweet Sally, thanks for the lovely compliment! I look forward to your post!
  
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Bams Triwoko on March 7, 2013 at 7:55 am said:

Awww…so cute baby bear.. – and he loves his thumb… 🙂

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- Tina Schell on March 7, 2013 at 8:06 am said:
  
  🙂
  
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frizztext on March 7, 2013 at 7:10 am said:

““babies” of all kinds DO love their thumbs…” – new for me; bad for snake babies!

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- Tina Schell on March 7, 2013 at 8:06 am said:
  
  OK, ALMOST all babies 🙂
  
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elisaruland on March 6, 2013 at 11:46 am said:

You must have been thrilled when you were taking this shot, I don’t know how you kept your camera steady. I would have been shaking with excitement. I’m amazed at how long this little guys “fingers” are on his massive paws. The better to catch salmon with, right?

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- Tina Schell on March 6, 2013 at 4:43 pm said:
  
  Funny you say that. I was SO excited. He was quite close by and had 2 other cubs with him climbing the tree while mama watched. None of the shots of the family or the 3 cubs was very good because I was so frenetic! Thanks for your comment Elisa. 🙂
  
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Steve Schwartzman on March 5, 2013 at 10:37 am said:

The Little Prince is always a great book to quote. It’s written simply enough that when I studied French in high school I was able to read it (part of which I did with the book held under my desk in physics class). I don’t recall any bears in the story, but maybe there was one in there with the elephant hidden under the hat.

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- Tina Schell on March 5, 2013 at 11:18 am said:
  
  Agree! I was a French major in college and it remains one of my favorite stories ever. I keep both the French and English versions 🙂
  
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  - Steve Schwartzman on March 5, 2013 at 11:27 am said:
    
    And decades ago I picked up a Portuguese version (O Pequeno Príncipe), which I still have.
jakesprinter on March 4, 2013 at 6:22 pm said:

Great shot Tina , Thanks for sharing this beautiful image my friend 🙂

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 6:38 pm said:
  
  My pleasure Jake! Loved this one – hope you got a great response.
  
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Amy on March 4, 2013 at 4:10 pm said:

Absolutely captivating!!

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 6:38 pm said:
  
  Thanks Amy 🙂 He was a cutie.
  
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Mary Lynn on March 4, 2013 at 3:04 pm said:

Great shot – amazing the mama let you get so close! I’m a titch envious of the header bear catching such a nice fish!

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 6:39 pm said:
  
  LOL – thanks ML. Believe it or not, there were 2 fishermen fly-fishing a few hundred yards downstream. There are so many salmon the bears didn’t even bother with them!
  
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elPadawan on March 4, 2013 at 3:03 pm said:

Great shot… Hope you had a large zoom and could keep a safe distance… Wouldn’t want the mama bear to feel threatened there…

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 7:44 pm said:
  
  Amen!!
  
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Madhu on March 4, 2013 at 12:43 pm said:

What an adorable fellow 🙂

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 6:40 pm said:
  
  He was indeed Madhu – thanks for your comment!
  
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restlessjo on March 4, 2013 at 11:55 am said:

Gorgeous! Guess he’ll grow into a bruiser someday.

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 6:40 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jo – actually he’s a bit of a bruiser already!
  
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Imelda on March 4, 2013 at 11:48 am said:

Fascinating. This is a lovely capture. 🙂 Good thing Mama Bear was busy to bother with nosy photographers. 🙂

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 6:41 pm said:
  
  🙂 Thanks Imelda! Mama Bear was a GIANT so thank goodness she had no interest in me!
  
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Barbara on March 4, 2013 at 9:00 am said:

I really like this photo of the cub. Nice shot!

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 9:18 am said:
  
  Thanks Barbara! Appreciate your comment & visit!
  
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Jane Lurie on March 4, 2013 at 8:57 am said:

Adorable!

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 9:19 am said:
  
  Thanks Jane; he really was 🙂
  
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edithlevyphotography on March 4, 2013 at 8:11 am said:

Great shot and fantastic capture. He’s so cute.

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 8:18 am said:
  
  Thanks Edith, he really was adorable!
  
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cindybruchman on March 4, 2013 at 8:09 am said:

I’d be scared with Mama down below!

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 8:20 am said:
  
  Mama seemed more worried about other bears than measly people!
  
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The Palladian Traveler on March 4, 2013 at 8:00 am said:

Nicely done, Tina. Your new header pic is a great view, too.

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 8:20 am said:
  
  Thanks Tom, the bears all along the falls were amazing.
  
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april kanew on March 4, 2013 at 7:46 am said:

OMG…love this guy…what a catch!!

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 8:21 am said:
  
  Thanks April, he does look love able, doesn’t he?!
  
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Photography Journal Blog on March 4, 2013 at 7:39 am said:

I just love this shot. What a great capture.

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 8:22 am said:
  
  Thanks much! A capture with the lens is as close as I’d want to be to him. Did you notice the nails on those paws?!?!
  
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larencev on March 4, 2013 at 7:24 am said:

He is precious ….you captured his personality!

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 8:23 am said:
  
  Thanks Gin! He certainly looked sweet up there sucking that paw!
  
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Linda Wyatt on March 4, 2013 at 7:16 am said:

Wonder what it is about our thumbs! What a precious sight to capture.. You are the best T. Linda

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 8:25 am said:
  
  Thanks Linda. He looked very cuddly, but I fear in this case looks we’re a bit deceiving! Seeing him from a distance was plenty for me!!
  
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Jane Iwan on March 4, 2013 at 6:50 am said:

What a darling shot! Had never considered that animals might suck their thumbs.

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 8:29 am said:
  
  Amazing, isn’t it Jane? Animals are so like us in so many ways. You can understand how anthropomorphism happens.
  
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pommepal on March 4, 2013 at 4:32 am said:

Oh he is so cute. I would be a bit nervous about Mamma bear

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- Tina Schell on March 4, 2013 at 8:30 am said:
  
  Nah, mama was too busy watching for other bears. We were too puny to bother with! You should see the size of these beauties!
  
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